Express barbeque with offset heat distributor and method of using same

Abstract

An express barbeque for cooking food includes a housing including a base and a lid with a cooking chamber therein. A grill is positionable in the base to support the food, with a food splatter area defined about the grill. Heat distributors are positioned about the cooking chamber offset laterally from the food splatter area. Each of the heat distributors includes a perforated pipe and a corresponding heat diverter. Each of the perforated pipes is shaped to receive heat from a heat source, and each has the corresponding heat diverter positioned thereabout to pass the heat from the perforated pipe through the cooking chamber whereby cooking of the food is facilitated. A cooking drawer may be slidably retractable from the housing. The cooking drawer may include the upper grill and a lower drip tray. The lower drip tray is connected below the grill to catch drippings therefrom.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An express cooking grill, comprising:
 a housing having a first base and a lid and defining a first cooking chamber therein;   a first grill;   a plurality of heat distributors positioned around a perimeter of the first cooking chamber above and below the first grill, the first grill being disposed in the first cooking chamber; and   a lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and:
 including a metal surface having a first end and a second end; and 
 being structurally supported by the first end and the second end. 
   
     
     
         22 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the metal surface has a curved portion between the first end and the second end to facilitate heat flow; and   the first end and the second end are structurally supported by at least two of the plurality of heat distributors.   
     
     
         23 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , further comprising a cooking drawer slidably positionable in the housing, the cooking drawer including a drip tray. 
     
     
         24 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein the lid heat distributor moves or pivots upward cooperatively with the lid. 
     
     
         25 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein the lid heat distributor is detached from the lid and does not move or pivot upward cooperatively with the lid. 
     
     
         26 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein the first grill is disposed within the first cooking chamber above at least a portion of the plurality of heat distributors. 
     
     
         27 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein the first base defines both the first cooking chamber and a second cooking chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The express cooking grill of  claim 27 , wherein the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber are independently operable. 
     
     
         29 . The express cooking grill of  claim 27 , wherein the first cooking chamber and second cooking chamber are operable together. 
     
     
         30 . The express cooking grill of  claim 27 , further comprising a second grill disposed in the second chamber. 
     
     
         31 . The express cooking grill of  claim 27 , wherein the first grill is disposed within the second cooking chamber as well as the first cooking chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The express cooking grill of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a second base;   the first base defines the first cooking chamber; and   the second base defines a second cooking chamber.   
     
     
         33 . The express cooking grill of  claim 32 , wherein the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber are independently operable. 
     
     
         34 . The express cooking grill of  claim 32 , wherein the first cooking chamber and second cooking chamber are operable together. 
     
     
         35 . The express cooking grill of  claim 32 , wherein a second grill is disposed within the second cooking chamber. 
     
     
         36 . An express cooking grill, comprising:
 a housing having a first base and a lid, the housing defining a first cooking chamber and a second cooking chamber therein;   a first grill disposed within the first cooking chamber; and   a plurality of heat distributors positioned around a perimeter of the first cooking chamber above and below the-grill and around a perimeter of the second cooking chamber.   
     
     
         37 . The express cooking grill of  claim 36 , wherein the first base defines both the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber. 
     
     
         38 . The express cooking grill of  claim 37 , wherein the first grill is disposed within the second cooking chamber as well as the first cooking chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The express cooking grill of  claim 37 , further comprising a second grill disposed within the second cooking chamber above and below the heat distributors. 
     
     
         40 . The express cooking grill of  claim 37 , further comprising a lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill and over and above the second grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and distribute the heat to the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber, the lid heat distributor including a metal surface. 
     
     
         41 . The express cooking grill of  claim 37 , wherein the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber are independently operable. 
     
     
         42 . The express cooking grill of  claim 37 , wherein the first cooking chamber and second cooking chamber are operable together. 
     
     
         43 . The express cooking grill of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a second base;   the first base defines the first cooking chamber; and   the second base defines a second cooking chamber.   
     
     
         44 . The express cooking grill of  claim 43 , wherein the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber are independently operable. 
     
     
         45 . The express cooking grill of  claim 43 , wherein the first cooking chamber and second cooking chamber are operable together. 
     
     
         46 . The express cooking grill of  claim 43 , wherein a second grill is disposed within the second cooking chamber above and below the heat distributors. 
     
     
         47 . The express cooking grill of  claim 46 , further comprising a lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill and over and above the second grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and distribute the heat to the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber, the lid heat distributor including a metal surface. 
     
     
         48 . The express cooking grill of  claim 43 , further comprising a first lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and:
 including a first metal surface having a first end and a second end; and   being structurally supported by the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         49 . The express cooking grill of  claim 48 , wherein:
 the first metal surface has a curved portion between the first end and the second end to facilitate heat flow; and   the first end and the second end are structurally supported by at least two of the plurality of heat distributors.   
     
     
         50 . The express cooking grill of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 a second grill disposed within the second cooking chamber above and below the heat distributors; and   a second lid heat distributor positioned above and over the second grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and:
 including a second metal surface having a first end and a second end; and 
 being structurally supported by the first end and the second end. 
   
     
     
         51 . The express cooking grill of  claim 50 , wherein:
 the second metal surface has a curved portion between the first end and the second end to facilitate heat flow; and   the first end and the second end are structurally supported by at least two of the plurality of heat distributors.   
     
     
         52 . The express cooking grill of  claim 48 , further comprising a cooking drawer slidably positionable in the housing, the cooking drawer including a drip tray. 
     
     
         53 . The express cooking grill of  claim 48 , wherein the lid heat distributor moves or pivots upward cooperatively with the lid. 
     
     
         54 . The express cooking grill of  claim 48 , wherein the lid heat distributor is detached from the lid and does not move or pivot upward cooperatively with the lid. 
     
     
         55 . A method for cooking any kind of food in an express cooking grill, the method comprising:
 placing the food on a first grill disposed in a first cooking chamber, the first cooking chamber having a first plurality of heat distributors disposed therein, the heat distributors being laterally offset from a food splatter area of the cooking chamber;   controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber; and   cooking the food.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein:
 the food comprises a plurality of portions,   the food placed on the first grill comprises a first portion of the food; and   the method further comprises:
 placing a second portion of the food on a second grill disposed in a second cooking chamber, the second cooking chamber having a second plurality of heat distributors disposed therein, the heat distributors offset from a food splatter area of the cooking chamber; 
 controlling the operation of the second cooking chamber; and 
 cooking the second portion of the food. 
   
     
     
         57 . The express cooking grill of  claim 56 , further comprising a lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill and over and above the second grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and distribute the heat to the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber, the lid heat distributor including a metal surface. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber and controlling the operation of the second cooking chamber occur independently. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber and controlling the operation of the second cooking chamber occur together. 
     
     
         60 . A method for cooking any kind of food in an express cooking grill, the method comprising: cooking the food in any kind of cooking chamber. 
     
     
         61 . The method of claim  70 , wherein the cooking chamber is a combined cooking chamber. 
     
     
         62 . A method for cooking any kind of food in an express cooking grill, the method comprising:
 placing the food on a first grill disposed in a first cooking chamber and on a second grill disposed in a second cooking chamber, the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber having a respective plurality of heat distributors disposed therein, the heat distributors being laterally offset from a food splatter area of the cooking chamber; and   controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber.   
     
     
         63 . The express cooking grill of  claim 62 , further comprising a lid heat distributor positioned above and over the first grill and over and above the second grill to receive heat from at least one of the plurality of heat distributors and distribute the heat to the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber, the lid heat distributor including a metal surface. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber and controlling the operation of the second cooking chamber occur independently. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein controlling the operation of the first cooking chamber and controlling the operation of the second cooking chamber occur together. 
     
     
         66 . A method for cooking any kind of food in an express cooking grill, the method comprising: cooking the food in any kind of cooking chamber. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the cooking chamber is a combined cooking chamber.